Wrapping-machine.



C. G. PAGE. WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22,1913.

1,1 16,618, Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHBBT 1.

G. G. PAGE.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION nun we. 22, 1913.

Patented NOV. 10, 1914.

G. 0. PAGE.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 22, 1913.

1,1 16,618. Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

G. 0. PAGE.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1913.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

5 BHEETS-BHEET 4.

Mn income 6M; {W

0. 0. PAGE. WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

5 SHEETSSHBET 5.

Wanna CLARENCE 0. PAGE,

OF GRANTS PASS, OREGON, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO AMERICAN WRAPPING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, COR- PORATIONOF OREGON.

WRAPPING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

Application filed August 22, 1913. Serial No. 786,088.

To alt whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE C. PAGE, acitizen of the United States, residing. at Grants Pass, in the county ofJosephine and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in -Wrapping-lilachines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to the construction of wrapping machines which areemployed to cover articles of merchandise with an enveloping wrapper ofpaper or the like flexible material, the particular form of apparatusshown in the drawings being primarily designed to be especially suitablefor wrapping articles which are apt to vary somewhat in size andregularity of form, such, for example, as the small pieces of candywhich are commonly known as kisses.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and durable apparatusby means of which enveloping wrappers with twisted ends may be rapidlyand elliciently formed around articles of merchandise that it is'desiredto Wrap or cover. Generally stated. this object is effected by thecodrdinated action of means for continuously forming a strip, band. orweb of the wrapping material into a tube, means for feeding the articleto be wrapped into the tube of wrapping material thus formed, means fortwisting the wrapping material so as to cause it to be main tained inenveloping relation with the article of merchandise, and means forsevering the strip of wrapping material into lengths corresponding toindividual wrappers. In the preferred organization of these severalmeans, as shown in the drawings, the wrapping material. is continuouslydrawn from a roll thereof and, after passing around suitable tensionjngmechanism, is formed into a tube by passing spirally downward around anopen-ended tubular member through the interior of which the articles tobe Wrapped are regularly and intermittently fed. After the wrappingmaterial is thus brought to tubular form it is twisted at intervals soas to securely surround each of the several articles introduced therein.each two twisted parts of the wrapper corresponding to a single articleand the portion of the wrapping material between the articles being ofsuliicient length to prevent the wrappers from becoming accidentallyuntwisted after the connection of wrapping material between the articleshas been severed. Upon leaving the wrapper twisting mechanism,

which, as will. hereinafter more fully appear, preferably includewrapper-engaging devices that are so mounted and actuated as to bothrotate and travel bodily continuously, the wrapped articles are freedfrom each other through the instrumentality of a knife mechanism whichis timed so as to sever the Wrapping material midway between theadjacent twists that are formed between succeeding articles. Thecompletely wrapped articles then pass out of the machine.

In the drawing illustratin my invention, the scope whereof is hereinater pointed out in the claims, Figure 1 is a view in per spective of awrapping machine embodying 'my invention, a portion of one of thestandards of the adjustable frame being in vertical section. Fig. 2 is adetail View, partly in elevation and partly in vertical central section,showing the princi a1 parts of the mechanism. Fig. 3 is a p an view ofthe wrapping machine, the supporting and ten sioning devices for theroll of wrapping material being removed. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectionof the apparatus, taken in the plane of the line M Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is adetail vertical section illustrating the relative positions oi thewrapper twisting and wrapper cutting mechanisms at the time of severingthe wrapping material and just prior to the introduction of an articleof merchandise to the tube formed in the wrap' ping material. Fi 6 is aView corresponding to Fig. 5, but illustrating the positions of theparts after the article to be wrapped has been fed to the wrappingmaterial and as the final twist of the latter about the article is beinginitiated. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section, taken in the plane ofthe line 7--7, Fig. 3, showing a portion of the mechanism for feedin thearticle of merchandise to the wrapping material. Fig. 8

' is a detail elevation of the wrapper twisting mechanism. Fig. 9 is ahorizontal section, taken in the plane of the line 99, Fig. 8. Fig. 10is a horizontal section, taken in the plane of the line 10-10, Fi

8. Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are detail views in 11 vertical section of partsof the mechanism by which the articles to be wrapped are fed, one byone, to the wrappin material, the several views illustrating di erentpositions assumed by the parts at various times during their operation.Fig. 14 is a detail elevation of the tubular member around which thestrip of wrapping material passes spirally to form a tube and throughwhich the articles to be Wrapped are introduced, the position assumed bythe u per edge of the strip of wra ping materia in passing spirallyaroun the tube being illustrated in dotted lines. Fig. 15 is a detailelevation of an inner reciprocating tube which cooperates with the outerstationary tube shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a detail view, taken in theplane of the line 1616, Fig. 11. Fig. 17 is a detail perspective view ofthe retaining device'or trap by which the articles to be wrapped areprevented from passing to the tube of wrapping material except at theproper time. Fig. 18 is a detail perspective view illustrating one ofthe wrap per engaging devices or twister bars of the wrapper twistingmechanism, together with the clamping bar by which it is secured to thechain belts of the twisting mechanism. Fig. 19 is a view correspondingto Fig. 18, but illustrating another of the wrapper engaging devices ofthe twisting mechanism. Fig. 20 is a detail section, taken on the planeof the line 2020, Fig. 18. Fig. 21 is a detail section, taken in theplane of the line 21-21, Fig. 18. Fig. 22 is a'detail section, in theplane of the line 22-22, Fig. 19. Fig. 23 is a detail section in theplane of the line 23 23, Fig. 19. Fig. 24 is a horizontal section takenon the line 2424, Fig. 2. Fig. 25 is a detail view, in vertical section,showing the relation of the controlling ring, by which the wra pingmechanisms are stopped and started: to the machine frame and to the artswhose operation it controls. Fig. 26 1s a detail elevation illustratinga portion of the controlling ring and adjacent parts of the machineframe and rotating cylinder upon which the twistin mechanism is mounted.Fig. 27 is a detafi elevation of the supply reel and tensioning devicesfor the wrapping material, together with the feed tube around which theweb of wrapping material is passed to form a tube. Figs. 28, 29 and 30are detail sections, on the line v w, Fig. 27, illustrating severaladjustments of the tensioning device for the web of wrapping material.Fig. 31 is a detail view looking toward the face of one of theworm-driven bevel gears of the apparatus, its relation to the worm beingillustrated by dotted lines. Figs. 32 and 33 are detail views ofportions of the brackets for supporting the traveling wrapper twistinmechanism.

Similar eatures of construction are indicated by corresponding referencecharac ters throughout the drawings.

In order that the articles to be wrapped may be convenientl fed to themachine rom work tables of di erent heights, it is preferred to soconstruct the frame of the a paratus that the operative mechanisms anthe motor by which such mechanisms are driven may be adjusted verticallythrough a sufficient distance to cover the normal ran e of variation inheight of work tables in d fferent factories. To this end the frame ofthe machine is preferably constructed with a suitable base 1 havin alurality of vertically extending cylindrical standards 2 rigidly securedthereto. Slidably mounted on the standards 2 are corresponding, hollowcylindrical standards 3 to the lower ends of,

which is secured a suitable plate or casting 4 forming a support for anelectric motor 5, such a motor being the preferred character of meansemployed for drivin the wrapping mechanisms. Intermediate 0 their endsthe standards 3 are provided with rigidly attached collars 6 upon whichrests a member or casting 7 that sup orts the wrapper twisting andcutting mec anisms, as will hereinafter appear. Through the interventionof tubular spacers 8 which rest upon the member 7 and encircle thecorrespondin cylindrical standards 3, .the member 7 afiio supports theupper frame or casting 9 that carries the plate 10 upon which aremounted the mechanism for feedin the articles and the preliminarywrapper orming mechanism, as well as the wrapper supply reel and thewrapper tensioning devices. Cap nuts 11 which have threaded engagementwith the upper ends of the tubular standards 3 of the machine frameserve to hold the upper frame member or casting 9 firmly against theupper ends of the vertically extending spacers 8. When it is desired toraise or lower the operative parts of the machine it is only necessaryto loosen the set-screw 12', which has threaded engagement with themotor supporting casting 4 and with one of the tubular standards 3 andwhich is adapted to also engage the corresponding upwardly extendinginner standard 2, then adjust the telescoping standards 2 and 3 to thedesired position, and, finally, tighten the set-screw. By thus mountingthe motor and operative parts of the mechanism on a telescoping frame ofthe character described the connections between the motor and themechanisms driven thereby require no change or adjustment when theheight of the machine is altered to bring the feed chute to the level ofany work-table.

The wrapper twisting devices and the knife mechanism by which thewrapping material is severed to free the wrapped articles from eachother are arranged to rapidly and continuously spin bodily on a verticalaxis while their parts simultaneously shift their relative positions inthe performance of their respective functions. To this end the knifedevices and Wrapper twisting mechanism are preferably mounted upon a bed12 havin an annular lower flange 13 to the under si. e of which issecured a frictional facin 14 of .such material, for example, as leater. When the machine is operation this leather facing 14 rests upon theupper surface of the corresponding annular portion 15 of a rotatingmember 16 that is rigidly secured to an encircling annular pulley 17which is driven from the motor 5 by a belt 18, the rotation of themember 16 being thus frictionally'communicated to the bed 12 upon whichthe wrapper twisting and knife mechanisms are mounted. The rotatingmember 16, whose central aperture may, if desired, be surrounded by adownwardly extending directing tube or flange 19 which prevents thewrapped articles delivered therethrough from being scattered by .thecentrifugal force due to the rotation of the mechanism, ispreferablyprovided near its upper end with a circular ball race 20corresponding to the similar ball race 21 formed inv the casting 7 thatis supported by the standards of the machine frame. Balls 22 which arelocated between these race-ways serve to support and center the rotatingmember 16 so that it may revolve on a vertical axis, and as the bed 12upon which the Wrapper twisting and knifemechanisms are mounted fitsinto and is centered by the cylindrical cup formed and bounded by theupwardly extending annular ball-race 20 of the member 16, such bed 12revolves on the same vertical axis as the rotating member 16 by which itis frictionally driven.

The round belt 18 by which the grooved pulley 17 is preferably drivenfrom the pulley 23 of the motor5 may conveniently have its directionchanged from the vertical to the horizontalby passing over idler pulleys24 and 25 which are horizontally journaled on a bracket 26 that issecured to adjacent tubular standards 3 of the machine frame.

The bevel gears 27 and 28 which drive the wrapper twisting mechanism,one of which gears, '28, also drives the knife mechanism, are "securedto horizontally extendin parallel shafts 29 and 30, respectively, w iichextend secantwise across the circular bed 12 to which they are attachedby means of pairs of brackets 31, 32, and 33, 34, in which they arerespectively journaled. By thus arrangin the shafts 29 and'30 the bevelgears 27 an 28 thereon may be driven by the annularworm member 35 as thebed plate 12 on which these gears and their shafts are mounted revolves,the teeth u on one side of each gear engaging the teet worm and thoseupon the other side ofeach gear clearing the worm; As illustrated in orthreads of the Fig. 31, the edges of the teeth of all the worm-drivenbevel gears of the apparatus are preferably sli htly rounded in order toprevent any possi ility of the edges of the gear teeth scraping theteeth of the worm.

The annular worm member 35, which is preferably made of bronze, has uponits interior face right-handed threads havingl a cross-sectional formsubstantially like t at of gear teeth, there being two teeth or threadsper revolution. As the oppositely revolving bevel gears 27 and 28 drivenby this worm have eight teeth each, it requires four revolutions ofthebed 12 upon which these gears are mounted to cause a single revolutionof the shafts 29 and 30 by which the actions of the wrapper twisting andrnife mechanisms are controlled. This worm 35 may be and preferably isrigidly secured to the. casting 7 by pins 36.

The starting and stoppin of the mechanism may be controlled while themotor 5 is running by means of a manually operable controller 37. Thiscontroller 37 is preferably formedas a ring which encircles the wormmember 35 and which, as more particularly shown in Figs. 2, 24, 25 and26, is supported on and centered by the member 7 This ring, which isfashioned with a radially extending handle 38 by means of which it maybe rotated in either direction, is provided on its under surface withoppositely disposed projections or knobs 39 which are adapted to resteither upon the upper horizontal edge of the member 7 or to enterdepressed seats 40 therein. As will be seen upon reference to Fig. 26,the surfaces of the depressed seats 40 preferably slope upwardly in bothdirections, so that, assuming the projections 39 to be in the seats 40,the turning of the handle 38 in either direction will cause theprojections 39 on the under side of the ring 37 to ride upwardly out ofthe depressed seats and to rest upon the u per edge of the member 7,thus elevating the ring and sustaining it in its elevated position. Theelevation of the ring 37brin sits u per face in contact with the lower ege o the annular shield or uard 41, which is designed to prevent the ustand dirt from clogging the ball-race and lower worm 35, and therebycauses such shield to be raised slightly above the position which theparts occupy when the machine is performing its wrapping operations. Asthe dust guard 41. is rigidly connected by pins 42 to the-barredcylinder 43 through the intermediary of which the feeding devices areactuated. and as this cylinder is itself rigidly connected by screws 41to the base or bed 12 on which the wrapper twisting and knife mechanismsare mount ed, the elevation of the dust guard 41 causes a corres ondinglifting of the bed 12 and of the leat er frictional facing 14 secured tothe under side of the latter, thus breaking the frictional-drivingcontact of the facing with the corresponding annular portion 15 of thepulley-driven member 16 and thereby stopping the operation of thewrapping mechanisms while the motor 5 continues to run.

Rigidly mounted on the upper end of the barred cylinder 43, which is1ou'rnaled in the upper casting 9 of the frame so'as to turn freelytherein, is anannular worm 45 having teeth or threads of similar form tothose of the lower worm 35. The worm'45 has four such left-handedthreads or teeth per revolution, or double the number on the worm 35. Itis by the rotation of this worm that the feeding devices which arecarried by the cap-plate 10 are actuated. Meshin with this worm are twobevel gears 46 an 47 whose shafts are journaled in brackets 48 and 49,respectively, which may be conveniently secured to the under side of thecap-plate 10 in any suitable manner. As the worm 45 has four threads andthe bevel gear 46 has eight teeth while the bevel gear 47 has sixteen,the barred cylinder 43 to which the worm45 is secured makes two completerevolutions for each revolution of the bevel gear 46 and makes fourrevolutions 5010. single revolution of the lar er bevel .gear 47. Thedevices operated rom the shafts of these two bevel gears are thuscorrespondingly timed.

Mounte centrally upon the ca -plate 10, as, for example, by means of aracket 51 which is bolted to the cap plate, is a vertically extendingcylindrical tube 52 that is provided with an aperture 53 through whichthe articles to be wrapped are introduced. Within the outer tube 52 is aslidable tube 54 which is capable of being vertically recip'rocated bymeans of a laterally projecting pin 55 that extends through a verticalslot 56 with which the outer tube 52' is proivided. This inner tube 54is also provided, intermediate its length, with an opening 57 throughwhich the articles to be wrapped may be introduced, the opening in theinner tube being sufficiently long to register with and leave theopening in the outer tube unobstructed when the inner tube is either inits upper or in its lower position.

The inner tube 54 is preferably reciprocated with-respect to the outertube 52 by means of the cam 58 which is rigidly secured to the shaft ofthe smaller bevel ar 46. This cam preferably cotiperates wit a camroller 59 which is journaled upon the downwardly projecting portion 60of a lever 61 which is pivotally mounted for vertical oscillationbetween the arms of a brac'ket 62 that is secured to the uppersurface'of the cap-plate 10. The vertical oscillations of the lever 61,which are due to the rotation of the cam 48, are communicated to thelaterally projectin arm or in 55ofthe inner tube 54, and t us to theinner tube itself, by means of a link'63 which is pivotally connected tothe pin 55 and to a similar pin 64 that is secured to the inner end ofthe cam actuated lever 61. For the sake of greater durability in theconnections of the parts, well as to insure recision of operation, thelink 63 is prefera ly provided at its opposite ends with integrallyattached cylindrical sleeves or bearings 65 and 66in whichthecylindrical pins 55 and 64 are, respectively,

.journaled. As a convenient means for causan 'inde endentlyreciprocating lunger 68 by which E the candy kisses 69 or ot er articlesto be wrapped are fed to the tube of wrapping material. This plunger 68,which s pre erably the segment of a cylindrictltube conforming to theadjacent face of the" inner tube 54, is pivotally connected to and dopends from an operating arm 70 which roects inwardly through verticallyextencfing, registering slots 71 and 72 formed in the outer and innertubes 52 and 54,r ectiv el'y,

the plun er 68 being so-balance that'its lower end has a tendency orbias toswing toward the center of the inner In feeding the articles tobe wrapped,- this plun er 68 coiiperates with a swinging trap 73 w ichis pivotally attached to the inner end of a chute 74 that'is mounted'onthe ca plate 10 for the purpose of receiving articles to be wrap ed. Thefeed chute 74 is preferably incline downwardly toward the tubes 52 and54, as shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, and it is also preferablynarrowedtoward its delivery end, thus servin to cause the articles to bewrapped to be ed to the pivoted trap 73 one at a time.

The pivoted trap 73 extends into the interior of the tubes 52 and 54through the apertures 53 and 57, respectively, in the lateral wallsthereof, and it is so counterbalanced by a counterbalancing weight 75 astoisu port any articles to be wrapped whose weig t it may be required tobear. To limit the extent of the upward swinging of the trap 73 thelatter may be conveniently rovided with a slightly flattened face 76 see17 which, as shown inFigs. 11 and18, is adapted to engage the lower faceofthe chute 74 at its Inner end. As will be readily understood upon aninsection of Figs. 11, 12 and 13, when the eed plunger 68 movesdownwardly its lower end engages the piece of candy 69 or other articleto be wrapped that on the trap 73 forcing the trap to swing downwardlyand thus delivering the candy to the pocket formed in the wrappingmaterial at the lower ends of the tubes 52 and 54. As the plungerthereafter moves upwardly the weighted trap forces it toward the wall ofthe inner tube 52 away from the end of the feed chute 74, thus allowingit to pass the trap 73 and assume a position above the trap and thearticle retained thereon, in readiness to. repeat its feeding operation.

The reciprocating feed plunger 68 is preferably driven from a cam 77that is rigidly secured-to the shaft of the bevel gear 47. Engaging theoperative face of this cam is a cam roller 78 which is j ournaled on thedownwardly extending arm 79 of a lever 80 which is pivo-tally mounted onthe cap-plate 10 by means of a bracket 81. The lever 80, which, as shownin Fig. 7, is arched so as to avoid contact with the feed chute 74, ispivotally connected at its outer end to a link 82 in the upper end ofwhich is journaled the projecting arm or shaft from which thereciprocating and swinging segmental plunger 68 depends. As a convenientmeans for connecting the link 82 tothe lever and to the operating arm 70of the feed plunger, it is preferred to provide the link 82 withoppositely extending cylindrical bearing sleeves 83 and 8d, the formerserving to re ceive a pin 85 which projects laterally from a the outerend of the link 82 and the latter serving to similarly receive theplunger operating arm or shaft 70. The cam roller 78 may be maintainedin engagement with the operative face of the cam 77 by means of a 7spring 86 that is seated upon the cap-plate 10 and presses upwardly uponthe inner end of the lever 80 by which the cam roller is borne.

The wrapping material, which is preferably a strip or ribbon of paper,may be most purpose of tensioning the web of wrapping tensioning devicemay be formed from.

pieces of cylindrical tubing having flanged plugs or closures and 96driven into their ends, the plugs 95 being secured to the baseplate 9+upon opposite sides of the capscrew 93. As will be readily understoodfrom an inspection of Figs. 28, 29 and 30, the cylinders of thetensioning device over and between which the web of wrapping materialslides may be so positioned with respect to the web of material as toregulate the tension upon the latter to the desired amount. Thisadjustment of the tensioning device may be accomplished by simplyloosening the cap-screw 93, turning the base-plate 94 until thecylinders 92 occupy the desired position and then again tightening thecap-screw.

The mechanism for twistin the Wrapper, which also operates to pull t elatter from the storage reel 87 as it may be needed, preferably consistsof traveling, parallel link bolts 97 that are arranged in pairs thebelts of each pair being connected by a series of transversely extendingtwister bars 98 and 99 which are adaptedto engage the wrap ping materialand' press it toward the center. Each link belt 97 passes around similarupper and lower sprocket wheels 100 which are arranged between the uprihts or vertical standards of each pair of brac ets 31 and 82, and 33 and34:, respectively, the upper sprocket wheels being idlers and the lowerones being the drivers of the chain belts. Each upper pair of sprocketwheels is mounted upon a shaft 101 which is journaled in the upper endsof the correspond ing pair of brackets, 31 and 32 or 33 and '34., as thecase may be; and each shaft 101, as more particularly shown in Fig. 4,is re duced in diameter intermediate its ends to permit the tube ofwrappin material to pass therebetween with per ect freedom. One lowerpair of the sprocket wheels 100 is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 29which is driven by the bevel gear 27, while the sprocket wheels of theother lower pair are correspondingly mounted on the shaft 30 that isdriven by the bevel gear 28, both shafts 29 and 30 being reduced indiameter intermediate of their length, similarly to the shafts 101, toafford ample clearance for the passage of the wrapped articles ofmerchandise. The sprocket wheels 100 are each preferably provided witheight teeth, as is the case with the bevel gears 27 and 2 8 for drivingthe shafts 2-9 and 30, respectively, and each chain belt 97 preferablyconta ns twenty-four links; so that at each rotation of the shafts 29and 30 the link belts 97 are caused to travel inunison a distance equalto the length of eight links, the adjacent vertically extending portionsof the link belts toward the center of the mechanism moving downwardlyand the outer segments of the belts moving upwardly.

The twister bars 98 and 99, respectively, which are mounted upon andextend transversely between the link belts of each pair at regularintervals (in the present instance at a distance of four links apart),are preferably of two forms, the bars of diiferent forms being arrangedalternately. As shown more especially in Fig. 9, the twister bars 98 areformed with a raised central portion 102 and depressed or lower portions103 flanking the same, the result being that when two of the twisterbars 98 come together in the operation of the machine the tube of paperor other wrapping material is grasped and crushed or flattened betweenthe high parts 102 of the bars while the lower parts 103 permit thewrapping material on each-side to be drawn toward the center withouttearing as the twister bars continue to twist and pull downwardly uponthe wrapping material, thus producing a close twist in the wrapper. Thebars 98 serve to make the; twist in the wrapper immediately in advanceof the piece of candy or other article. The bars 99 operate upon thewrapper in forming the twist therein immediately behind the article thatis beinguwrapped'. As shown in Fig. 10, these;bars 99 are preferablydepressed or of concave form along their outer faces, as at 104, so asto avoid gripping the wrapping material too tightly to prevent it fromslipping between them, but being sufiiciently hightov crush or crumplethe tube of wrapping material, force it inwardly and compel it to twistbehind the piece of candy As the pullin and twisting of the wrappingmaterial by the bars 98 continue, the wrapper is drawn tightly aroundthe article beingwrapped and is twisted behind it, the concaving of thefaces 104 of the bars 99 permitting the wrapping material to slipthrough them and be drawn tightly around the pieces of candy or otherarticles even though the latter may vary in size and form.

The twister bars 98 and 99, which are preferably notched to receivetheir respective chains 97 may be conveniently secured to the latter bymeans of clamping bars 105 which catch over the inside links only of thechains and which are secured to their corresponding twister bars bymeans of screws 106. To permit the laterally projecting ends of thetwister bars to clear the brackets 31, 32, 33 and 34 in passing aroundthe lower sprocket wheels 100, the brackets may be appropriatelychanneled or undercut as indicated at 107 and 108 in Figs. 32 and 33 ofthe drawings.

As shown more especially in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the-inner faces of theupright portions of the brackets. 31, 32, 33 and 34 are preferablyprovided with yielding facings or strips of spring steel .109 whoseupper and lower ends may be secured in kerfs in their respectivebrackets. These spring facings, which are bent or curved outward y attheir ends to facilitate the entry and departure of the travelingtwister bars 98 and 99, are adapted to engage the laterally projectingends of the twister bars and adjustably maintain the latter in operativeengagement with the wrapping material which is gripped between them.

The mechanism for severing the wrapping material, to thus free thewrapped articles from each other, preferably consists of a rotary knifewhich cooperates with a substantially stationary knife, the cuttingedges of the two knives being arranged at an angle to each other so asto shear the wrapping material. The rotary' knife, which preferablyconsists of a cutting portion 110 of high speed steel that is mountedupon a reinforcing member 111 of mild steel, extends between and issecured to two disks 112 which are supportingly journaled in bearingsformed on the under side of the rotating bed 12 by which the wrappertwisting mechanism is carried. One of the disks 112 has a short shaft113 which serves as a journal only, while the shaft 114 to which theother disk is rigidly secured is provided at its outer end with a pinion115 by means of which the shaft 114, the disks 112 and the knife securedbetween the disks are caused to rotate. The pinion 115 meshes with apinion 116 of the same size that is rigidly secured to the shaft 30 bywhich the sprocket wheels that drive one pair of the link belts 97 aredriven. The rotary knife, therefore, makes one complete rotation at eachrotation of the shafts 29 and 30 by which the wrapper twisting devicesare actuated.

The knife 117 with which the rotary knife cotiperates, whilesubstantially stationary, is preferably so mounted on the rotating bed12 as to be capable of yielding so as to accommodate itself to thecuttin edge of the member 110 of the rotary knlfe as the two cuttingedges shear upon each other. To this end the mild steel reinforcingmember 118 on which the knife 117 is mounted is preferably secured atits inner end to a shaft 119 which is journaled in the depending webs ofthe rotating bed 12, while a spring 120, which is secured to the bed 12,bears upon the upper side of the reinforcin member 118 and thus forcesthe latter and its attached knife 117 of high speed steel toward therotary knife. By this arrangement the knife 117 is caused to bear uponand be supported by the edges of the dlsks 112 and to shear across thecutting edge of the member 110 of the rotary knife to sever the wrappingmaterial, the cutting edge of the rotary knife projecting radiallyoutwardly beyond the peripheries of the disks 112 except for a shortdistance at its leading end, which is sufficiently depressed below theedge of the adjacent disk to insure the stationary knife 117 shearingacross the cutting edge of the rotary knife without catching. The formof knife mechanism described is preferred for severing the wrappingmaterial as it is eflicient at all speeds and is quiet in operation, therotary knife running continuously in one direction.

In the operation of the machine the web of wrapping material, which bypassing spirally around the tube 52 is formed into a tube at the lowerend of the latter, is grasped below the tube between a pair of opposedtwister bars 98. As these bars travel downwardly, rotating as they go,the wrapper is twisted between them, the length of the twist beinglimited by the reciprocating inner tube 5% which follows the twisterbars 98 downwardly and thus causes the wrapper twist to be confined tothe space between its lower end and the pair of twister bars immediatelybelow. When, as shown in Fig. 2, the tubular pocket in the wrappingmaterial above the twister bars is of sutlicient size to receive anarticle that is to be wrapped, the segmental feed plunger 68 moves.downwardly and delivers one of the articles from the feed chute 74 tothe inside of the tubular pocket of wrapping material, as heretoforedescribed. The inner tube 54 then moves upwardly until, as shown inFigs. 6 and 13, it is retracted within the tube 52 around which thewrapper web is formed. The inner tube remains in this upper positionwhile the succeeding pair of twister bars 99 are closing upon the tubeof wrap ping: material, after which it follows the bar-s99 downwardly inprecisely the same manner as has already been described with respect tothe twister bars 98. The tubular pocket thus -formed in the wrapping material above the twist made by the pair of twister bars 99 is permittedto remain empty, the feed plunger 68, which operates but once while theinner tube 54 operates twice, remaining stationary while the inner tubeis retracted and the succeeding pair of twister bars 98 grip thewrapper. After the twister bars 98 grip the wrapper the inner tube 5 1again follows them downwardly, the feed plunger 68 again acts to supplyanother. article to the tubular pocket in the wrapper above the twistformed by the. bars 98',*the inner tube 54 again moves upwardly and thetwister bars 99 of the next pair move inwardly to form the twist in thewra per behind the article of merchandise. hese ope 'ations arerepeated, the pockets in the wrapping material between the twists beingalternately filled and empty. As the wrapped articles thus connectedpass downwardly the knife mechanism, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6,severs the wrapping material through the empty pockets, thus freeing thewrapped articles from each other and permitting them to pass downwardlythrough the delivery tube 19 and out of the machine through the deliverychute 121.

I claim a 1.. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means forsupplying the wrapping material and means for feeding an an ticle ofmerchandise which is to be wrapped, of means for continuously twistingthe wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with thearticle of merchandise, said wrapper twisting means including relativelymovable members which are continuously rotatable on a common axis.

2. In a wrapping machine. the combination with means for supplying thewritpping material and means for feeding an article of merchandise whichis to be wrapped, of means for continuously twisting the wrappingmaterial to retain it in enveloping relation with the article ofmerchandise, and means for severing the wrapping material between twotwists therein after the twists are formed.

3. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying a webof wrapping material, of means for causing the wrapping material toextend spirally and thereby-assume a tubular form, means for insertingan article of merchandise which is to be wrapped into the tubularportion of the web of wrapping material, and means for continuouslytwisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation withthe article of merchandise.

l. In a wrapping machine, the combination with. means for supplying aweb of wrapping material, of means for causing the wrapping material toassume a tubular form, means for successively inserting articles ofmerchandise which are to be wrapped into the tubular portion of the webof wrapping material, means for continuously twisting the wri-ippingmaterial in the same direction to retain it in enveloping relation withthe articles of merchandise, and means for severing the wrappingmaterial between two twists therein after the twists are formed.

5. In a wrappin machine, the combination with means .or supplying a webof wrapping material, of means for directing said web spirally so as toform it into a tube, means for feeding the articles of merchandise to bewrapped, means for causing the wrapping material to envelop thearticles, of merchandise, and means for severing the web of wrappingmaterial to free the wrapped articles from each other after the wrapperenveloping operation.

6. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material and means for "feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, of means for twisting the wrapping material toretain it in enveloping relation with themticles of merchandise, andmeans for severing the wrapping material after the twists have beenformed therein, said wrapper twisting means and said means for severingthe wrapping material being rotatable about a common axis. 7

7. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material and means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, of means for twisting the wrapping material toretain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, andmeans for severing the wrapping material between two twists therein,said wrapper twisting means and said means for severing the wrapperbeing rotatable about a common axis and each including relativelymovable members, the members of said wrapper twisting means beingadapted to move in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation.

8. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for feeding thearticles to be wrapped, of means for supplying a web of wrappingmaterial, a tubular member through which the articles to be wrapped arefed and around which the web of wrap ping material passes spirally, andmeans for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in envelopingrelation with the articles of merchandise.

9. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for feeding thearticles to be wrapped, of means for supplying a web of wrappingmaterial, a tubular member through which the articles to be wrapped arefed and around which the web of wrapping material passes spirally, meansfor twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relationwith the articles of merchandise, and means for severing the wrappingmaterial between two twists there in after the twists are formed.

10. In a wrapping machine, the combina tion with means for feeding thearticles to be wrapped, of means for supplying a web of wrappingmaterial, an outer tubular member through which the articles to bewrapped are fed and around which the web of wrapping material passesspirally an in ner tubular member adapted to reciprocate Within saidouter tubular member and to support the wrapping material beyond the endof such outer tubular member, and means for twistingthe wrappingmaterial after it leaves the outer tubular member to thereby retain itin enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise.

11. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying aweb of wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles ofmerchandise which are to be wrapped, and means for continuously twistingthe wrapping material in the same direction to retain it in envelopingrelation with tion with means for supplying the wrapping material, ofmeans for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped,and means for enveloping the articles of merchandise in the wrappingmaterial, said means for feeding the articles of merchandise including atube around the exterior of which the wrapping material passes spirallyand a plunger adapted to reciprocate within said tube.

13. In awrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, and means for enveloping the articles ofmerchandise in the wrapping material, said means for feeding thearticles of merchandise including a tube around which the wrappingmaterial is formed, a plunger adapted to reciprocate within said tube,and a movable trap which extends into said tube and which is adapted tosupport an article of merchandise to be wrapped.

1%. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, and means for enveloping the articles ofmerchandise in the wrapping material, said means for feeding thearticles of merchandise including a tube around which the wrappingmaterial passes spirally and a pivoted plunger adapted to reciprocatewithin said tube.

15. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, and means for enveloping the articles ofmerchandise in the wrapping material, said means for feeding thearticles of merchandise including a tube, a pivoted segmentalcylindrical plunger adapted to reciprocate .within said tube and pivotedtrap which extends into said tube and which is adapted to support anarticle of merchandise that is to be wrapped.

16. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, and means for enveloping the articles ofmerchandise in the wrapping material, said means for feeding thearticles of merchandise including a tube around which the wrappingmaterial spirally passes, said tube having a lateral aperture permittingentry of the articles to be wrapped.

17. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feedingthe articles of tilllfillthtllllil merchandise which are to be wrapped, and means fortwisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation withthe articles of merchandise, said wrapper twistmg means includingtraveling belts provided with members which are adapted to engage thewrapping material.

18. ln a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, and means for twisting the wrapping material toretain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, saidwrapper twisting means including a plurality of traveling belts whichsimultane.

ously rotate bodily about a common axis.

19. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, and means for twisting the wrapping material toretain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, saidwrapper twisting means including a plurality of traveling and bodilyrotating belts provided with bars which are adapted to engage thewrapping material.

20. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles which are to bewrapped, and means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it inenveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, said wrappertwisting means including a plurality of bars which are adapted toreceive the wrapping material between them and means for causing saidbars to simultaneously rotate and travel bodily in the direction oftheir axes of rotation.

21. In a. wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise tobe wrapped, and means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it inenveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, said wrappertwisting means including a plurality of traveling belts arranged inpairs and bars mounted uponand extending between the belts of each pair,the adjacent segments of the belts of each pair being adapted to travelin the same direction in unison and the corresponding bars of each pairof belts being adapted to engagingly receive the wrapping materialbetween them.

"22. in a u rapping machine, the combination with means for supplyingthe wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be Wrapped, and means for twisting the wrapping material toretain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, saidwrapper twisting means including a plurality of link belts which arearranged in pairs and which travel at equal speeds and rotate bodilyabout a common axis, and bars mounted upon and extending between thebelts of each pair, some of said bars having a centrally locatedprojecting portion and some of said bars having a centrally locateddepression, the two forms of bars on each pair of belts beingalternated.

:23. In a wrapping machine, the combination. with means for supplyingthe wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, means for twisting the wra ping material toretain it in enveloping re ation with the articles of merchandise, andmeans for actuating the wrapper twisting means, said wrapper twistingmeans including a plurality of relatively movable members, and saidmeans for actuating the wrapper twisting means including a plurality ofc0ntinuously rotating parallel shafts which are respectively driven bybevel gears that engage an annular worm member.

24:. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, means involving relatively movable memhers fortwisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation withthe articles of merchandise, means for causing said wrapper twistingmeans to rotate as a Whole, and means for causing said relativelymovable members to move in the direction of length of the axis aboutwhich the wrapper twisting means rotates, said means for causing therotation of said wrapper twisting means including frictional drivingmeans.

25.. In a wrapping machine, a rotatable bed, wrapper twisting mechanismmounted on said bed, wrapper severing mechanism mounted on said bed,means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped,means operated by the rotation of said bed for actuating said feedingmeans, means frictionally engaging said bed for causing the latter torotate, and a movable ring provided with a handle for controlling thefrictional driving engagement of the bed and its driving means.

26. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, means for continuously twistmg the wrappingmaterial to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles ofmerchandise, and means for severing the wrapping material, said wrappertwisting means including a plurality of rotatable and bodily movablebars which are adapted to engage the wrapping material, and means foryieldingly maintaining corresponding bars in engagement with thewrapping material.

27. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material and means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, of wrapper twisting mechanism and wrappersevering mechanism which are rotatable about a common axis, said wrappersevering mechanism involvin cooperating knives one of which is indepenently rotatable and continuously movable with respect to the other.

28. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, means for twistin the wrapper to retain it inenveloping re ation with the articles of merchandise, and means forsevering the Wrapping material, said wrapper severing means involvingknives which are rotatable about a common axis and one of which iscontinuously rotatable independent of the other.

29. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material and means for feedlng the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped,

of wrapper twisting mechanism and wrap er in enveloping relation withthe articles of merchandise, means for severing the wrapping material,said wrapper twisting means and wrapper severing means being rotatableabout a common axis, and a delivery tube through which the wrappedarticles of merchandise pass, the axis about which the wrapper twistingmeans and wrapper severing means rotate passing through said tube.

31. In a wrapping machine, the combination with the machine frame, of arotatable bed mounted thereon, means for supplying the wrapping materialand means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to bewrapped, both of said means being mounted upon the frame, and means forcontinuously twisting the wrapper and means for severing the wrapper,both of said last named means being mounted upon the rotatable bed.

32. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying thewrapping material, means for feeding the articles of merchandise whichare to be wrapped, means for twisting the wrapping material to retain itin enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, means forsevering the wrapping material, means including a rotatable worm memberfor actuating the article feeding means, and means including astationary worm member for actuating the wrapper twisting means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE C. PAGE.

Witnesses F. H. MEYER, L. M. GILLIAM.

